Product selector

ABSTRACT

A product selector for displaying a plurality of broom heads is shown and described. The product selector may include a center section, comprising a center assembly and a plurality of mounting boards, where a broom head is removably attached to each mounting board. The product selector may also include an upper arm and a lower arm, where the center assembly is rotatably attached to the upper arm and the lower arm, and a placard display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/180,923 entitled “PRODUCT SELECTOR,” filed on Jun. 17, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF USE

The present invention is generally related to a product selector and, more particularly, to a point of sale structure that conveniently displays a plurality of products such that a purchaser can easily view the products.

BACKGROUND

Point of sale displays provide opportunities for purchasers to view products available for sale, such as in a retail establishment. These point of sale displays, however, often only allow the purchaser to view the products and provide no means to assist the purchaser in making a product selection. They do not permit the purchaser to touch and feel the products being sold. Further, these point of sale displays often do not provide potentially important information for the purchaser regarding the products being sold.

For example, point of sale displays for items like broom heads suffer from these drawbacks. The point of sale displays for broom heads often do not allow purchasers to touch the broom head—such as the bristles thereof—to determine which type thereof may be appropriate for their particular use. Further, point of sale displays for broom heads may not even allow access to the bristles, which is one of the primary factors the purchaser may use to choose the appropriate broom head. Further still, these point of sale displays for broom heads often fail to provide needed information for purchasers regarding the broom head. This makes it difficult for purchasers to determine which product fits their needs.

In some situations, the top of the broom block is used to include certain information regarding such broom head. However, this often prevents the purchaser from being able to access the bristles and limits the amount of information that can be provided regarding the broom head.

There is a need, therefore, for an improved point of sale display or product selector that allows purchasers to touch and feel the product as well as provide needed information regarding such product or products to assist in making a purchasing decision. By way of a non-limiting example, there is a need for a product selector that allows purchasers to touch and feel the broom head—specifically the bristles thereof—while providing space for needed information regarding the broom head and its bristles.

SUMMARY

The present teachings relate to a structure that supports a plurality of products. In one aspect of the invention, the structure supports a plurality of broom heads in a manner in which a customer can view and/or touch each broom head to facilitate the buying process. In one embodiment, the structure may include a placard display that can be customized to include information about the broom heads on display. In one embodiment, there is a placard display for each broom head supported by the structure. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the structure rotates so that a customer can view and/or touch each of the broom heads supported by the structure. The structure and the products (e.g., broom heads) may be oriented in any manner to facilitate display of the products. For example, the broom heads may be oriented horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. In embodiments in which at least a portion of the structure rotates, the structure may rotate in any orientation (e.g., horizontally, vertically, or diagonally).

In an embodiment, the present technology discloses a product selector for displaying a plurality of broom heads having a center section including a center assembly and a plurality of mounting boards. A broom head may be removably attached to each mounting board. The broom head may be attached to the mounting board by a head portion of the broom head or it may be attached to the board by a handle portion of the broom head, or both.

The product selector may also include an upper arm and a lower arm. The center assembly may be rotatably attached to the upper arm and the lower arm. The product selector may also include a placard display positioned on the center section.

In an embodiment, the mounting boards may include a display portion displaying information about each of the broom heads. The center section of the product selector may also be removably attached to a display unit.

In an embodiment, the broom head attached to the mounting board may be removed and replaced with a second broom head. The mounting board may also include a handle.

The placard display of the product selector may include a header channel accommodating a display. The placard display may be attached to the upper arm or to the center section.

In an embodiment, the center assembly may include offset straps attached to a center tube. The offset straps may attach to the mounting board to the center section. The center assembly may include a first offset strap attached to a second offset strap.

In one aspect, the present technology discloses a product selector for displaying a plurality of broom heads including a center section having a center assembly and a plurality of offset straps. A broom head may be removably attached to an offset strap. The product selector may include an upper arm and a lower arm. The center assembly may be rotatably attached to the upper arm and the lower arm by the offset straps. The upper arm and lower arm may be attached to center section by a socket. The upper arm may be attached to the center section by an upper strap and the lower arm may be attached to the center section by a lower strap.

In one aspect, the present technology discloses a method of displaying a plurality of broom heads including removably attaching at least one broom head to at least one mounting board of a product selector. The method may further include rotating the product selector. The method may also include removing at least one broom head from the product selector and replacing with a second broom head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present teachings may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a product selector.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the product selector.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the product selector.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the product selector.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an upper arm and placard display of an embodiment of the product selector.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the upper arm, placard display, and center tube of an embodiment of the product selector.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the placard display, the center tube, and top of the upper arm of an embodiment of the product selector.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a center section of an embodiment of the product selector.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a mounting board with handles of an embodiment of the product selector.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the center assembly of an embodiment of the product selector.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the offset straps of an embodiment of the product selector.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the center tube and offset straps of an embodiment of the product selector.

FIG. 13 is a side view of an offset strap of an embodiment of the product selector.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a product selector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present teachings, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the present teachings. Moreover, features of the various embodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the present teachings. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the present teachings.

An embodiment of a product selector 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-4. The product selector 10 may include a center section 14 that may be attached to a display unit 18 (e.g., shelving) via an upper arm 22 and a lower arm 26. Products 30, such as broom heads 34, may be removably attached to the center section 14 such that a purchaser may view and/or touch each product 30. By way of a non-limiting example, in those situations in which the product 30 comprises a broom head 34 (such as shown in FIGS. 1-4), the broom head 34 may be attached to the center section 14 with bristles 38 of the broom head 34 oriented to show the bristles 38, e.g., the broom fiber fill and the stiffness of the fiber.

The present teachings, however, are not limited to this configuration, the broom head 34 may also be oriented to show other features of the broom head 34, including the cross-section of a block or head portion 42, the block construction 42, or a handle attachment mechanism (not shown). While the broom heads are generally shown as oriented vertically, they can be oriented in any direction, e.g., vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the product display 10 may include a plurality of broom heads 34 removably attached to the center section 14. While four such broom heads 34 are shown and described herein, this number is merely exemplary. Any number of broom heads 34 may be attached with the product selector 10 without departing from the present teachings. Further still, while the broom heads 34 are indicated as being removably attached to the center section 14, the present teachings are not limited to this configuration. The broom heads 34 may be permanently attached or otherwise removably attached in any appropriate manner.

The center section 14 may include at least one mounting board 46. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the center section 14 may include four mounting boards 46. While four such mounting boards 46 are shown and described, the present teachings are not limited to such. Any appropriate number of mounting boards 46 may be utilized, e.g., one, two, three, five, six, etc. The mounting board 46 may be of any appropriate configuration, including, by way of a non-limiting example being generally rectangular—see FIG. 9. The products 30 or more specifically, the broom heads 34 may be attached with the mounting boards 46 in any appropriate manner. In some embodiments, the broom head 34 may be supported on the mounting board 46 by any suitable attachment device including, but not limited to fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, nails, hooks, clasps, snaps, magnets, Velcro®, etc.). In other embodiments, each mounting board 46 may be configured to support each broom head 34 by, for example, having holes corresponding to pegs attached to each broom head 34. By way of a non-limiting example and as shown in FIG. 9, the mounting board 46 may include apertures 48 to which the broom head 34 may be removably attached in any appropriate manner. A first broom head 34 may be interchanged with a second broom head 34 by detaching the first broom head 34 from the mountain board 46 and then replacing it with a second broom head 34. This allows for new broom heads 34 to be added and/or removed from the display to reflect new products, season products, etc., without having to provide a new product display 10.

The mounting boards 46 may be made of any suitable material, for example wood, plastic or metal. In some embodiments, the mounting boards 46 may be made from fiberboard, e.g., MDF or particle board. In other embodiments, the fiberboard may be covered with a wood veneer, a fabric, or any other type of decorative finish, including, without limitation branding information. In other embodiments, the mounting boards 46 may be plastic or metal, allowing for the attachment of magnets, e.g., using magnets to attach a broom head 34 to the mounting board 46.

A portion of or all of the mounting boards 46 may include a handle 50 to facilitate the movement, such as rotation, of the product selector 10. The handles 50 may be of any appropriate configuration. By way of a non-limiting example, the handles 50 may be attached with, integrally formed with or monolithically formed with the mounting boards 46. The handles 50 may be generally planar as shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the handles 50 may attach with a backside of the mounting board 46 in any appropriate manner. In addition to or alternatively, the handles 50 may attached with an offset strap 74 (described below) in any appropriate manner, including, without limitation, fastening, welding, adhering or the like.

As shown, the mounting boards 46 may form part of the center section 14. The center section 14 is attached to the upper arm 22 and a lower arm 26 in any appropriate manner. By way of a non-limiting example, they may be attached by a socket 58. The attachment of the upper arm 22, lower arm 26 and center section 14 may permit the product selector 10 to move in a predetermined manner, such as being able to rotate.

The product selector 10 may further include a placard display 62. The placard display 62 may be attached to the upper arm 22 or the lower arm 26 in any appropriate manner, including, without limitation via fastening, adhering, welding or the like. In other embodiments, the placard display 62 may be attached with the center section 14 in any appropriate manner, including, without limitation via fastening, adhering, welding or the like. The placard display 62 may be configured to hold a display item, such as branding information regarding the products 30. The placard display 62 may be of any appropriate configuration. Alternatively, the placard display 62 may allow for the attachment of a display item through the use of fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, nails, hooks, clasps, and snaps), magnets, or Velcro® or other removable means. In another embodiment, the placard display 62 may display a permeant display item. The placard display 62 may include two display portions 64 that may be configured to hold the applicable branding. The placard display 62 may be fixed relative to the upper arm 22 or may move with respect to the upper arm 22. In other embodiments, the placard display 62 may be fixed with the center section 14 such that as the center section rotates, the placard display 62 likewise rotates. In other embodiments, the placard display 62 may rotate relative to the center section 14 such that it may rotate independently of the center section 14. The placard display 62 may include a header channel 65. The header channel 65 may be structured to accommodate a display that may be inserted therein and held in an operative position with respect to the placard display 62. In another embodiment, the placard display 62 may be configured with a slot or a tab so it may hold a removable paper or cardstock that may display branding information, pricing information, or the like.

In some embodiments, the center section 14 may include a center assembly 66 as shown in FIGS. 10-12. The center assembly 66 may include a center tube 70 and offset straps 74 attached thereto. The offset straps 74 may be attached to and/or circumscribe the center tube 70 and provide support for other elements of the center section 14. As shown in FIG. 10, four offset straps 74 of substantially equivalent configuration may be used. The offset straps 74 may be attached with the center tube 70 in any manner, including, without limitation via fastening, welding, adhering or the like. While a generally circular center tube 70 is shown in the drawings, the present teachings are not limited to this configuration. The center tube 70 may be of any appropriate cross-sectional shape, including, without limitation, rectangular, square, oval, hexagon, and the like. Further, the center tube 70 may be hollow or solid. Further still, the center section 14 may not include the center tube 70. In such embodiments, the offset straps 74 may be attached directly to one another. In such embodiments, there may be a hollow area between the off straps 74 or they may be directly connected in a fashion that does not leave a central hollow area.

The offset straps 74 may be of any appropriate configuration. The offset straps 74 may be utilized to attach the mounting boards 46 with the center section 14. Further still, the offset straps 74 may be attached to the upper arm 22 and lower arm 26 in any appropriate manner. This may secure the center section 14 with the upper and lower arms 22, 26. In some embodiments, the offset straps 74 may be attached with the upper and lower arms 22, 26 in a manner to permit rotation of the center section 14 with respect to such upper and lower arms 22, 26. This may result in the product selector 10 being rotatable.

In some embodiments, the entire product selector 10 may be rotatable with respect to the upper and lower arms 22, 26 and/or the display unit 18. In other embodiments, only the center section 14 may be rotatable. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the center section 14 may be rotatable. In other embodiments, the center section 14 may be supported at a top and bottom by sockets 58 that may allow the product selector 10 to freely rotate.

In some embodiments, the center section 14 may comprise a mounting board 46 that accommodates a broom head 34. The center section 14, however, may include a plurality of mounting boards 46. For example, in some embodiments, the center section 14 may include two mounting boards 46, which each mounting board 46 accommodating only one broom head 34. In other embodiments, the center assembly 14 may contain a plurality of mounting boards 46, with each mounting board 46 accommodating a plurality of broom heads 34. The number of mounting boards 46 may depend on the overall size of the product selector 10 and the needs of store owner. For example, in some embodiment, the center section 14 may include four mounting boards 46, each mounting board 46 accommodating one broom head 34. The present teachings, however, are not limited to this configuration. Any appropriate number of mounting boards 46 may be utilized with any appropriate number of broom heads 34.

The mounting boards 46 may include a display portion 78. The display portion 78 may be of any appropriate configuration. The display portion 78 may be a separate portion of the mounting board 46, i.e., it may be a discrete member, or may be part of the mounting board 46, i.e., integrally or monolithically formed therewith. The display portion 78 may provide space for information regarding the products 30 or broom heads 34. The display portion 78 may be of any appropriate configuration and size. The display portion 78 may provide enough room for details regarding the broom head 34, e.g., information regarding the bristles 38 (fiber type (e.g., nylon, polypropylene, Tampico, horse hair, Palmyra, and the like), stiffness, number of the bristles, count, etc.). Further still, the display portion 78 may contain information regarding typical uses of each of the broom heads 34 or uses for which the applicable broom head 34 is designed to be used.

Additional embodiments of a product selector according the present teachings are described below. In the descriptions, all of the details and components may not be fully described or shown. Rather, the features or components are described and, in some instances, differences with the above-described embodiments may be pointed out. Moreover, it should be appreciated that these additional embodiments may include elements or components utilized in the above-described embodiments although not shown or described. Thus, the descriptions of these additional embodiments are merely exemplary and not all-inclusive nor exclusive. Moreover, it should be appreciated that the features, components, elements and functionalities of the various embodiments may be combined or altered to achieve a desired product selector without departing from the spirit and scope of the present teachings.

FIG. 14 depicts an embodiment of a product selector 100 in which broom heads 134 are attached directly to an offset strap 174 thereof. In these embodiments, the broom heads 134 may be removably or permanently attached with an offset strap 174. The broom heads 134 may be attached in any appropriate manner, including, without limitation via welding, adhering, fastening or the like.

The product selector 100 may be attached to an upper arm 122 and a lower arm 126. The upper and lower arms 122, 126 may be attached to the center section 114 by an appropriate manner. By way of example, the upper and lower arms 122, 126 may be attached to the center section 114 by an upper arm strap 123 and a lower arm strap 127, respectively. In some embodiments, the upper arm strap 123 and the lower arm strap 127 may each be attached to the center section 114 by a socket 158. In these embodiments, the center section 114 may free rotate resulting in the product selector 100 being capable of rotating.

The upper arm 122 and lower arm 126 may be attached to a pre-existing display unit, e.g., a display shelf in a store. In some embodiments, the upper arm 122 and lower arm 126 include hooks that may be attached to, for example, a shelf in a store. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the upper arm 122 and lower arm 126 may be attached to any kind of display unit by any appropriate means to practice the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 14, the product selector 100 may include display portions 178. The display portions 178 are separate and discrete from the mechanism utilized to attach the broom heads 134. The display portions 178 may be similar to the mounting boards 46 described above and may attach with the center section 114. The display portions 178 may be configured to display information regarding the applicable broom head 134 positioned immediately above such display portion 178.

Although embodiments of the present teachings have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the invention described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A product selector for displaying a plurality of broom heads comprising: a center section, comprising a center assembly and a plurality of mounting boards, wherein a broom head is removably attached to each mounting board; an upper arm and a lower arm, wherein the center assembly is rotatably attached to the upper arm and the lower arm; and a placard display positioned on the center section.
 2. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the mounting boards include a display portion displaying information about each of the broom heads.
 3. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the center section is removably attached to a display unit.
 4. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the broom head attached to the mounting board may be removed and replaced with a second broom head.
 5. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the mounting board includes a handle.
 6. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the placard display comprises a header channel accommodating a display.
 7. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the placard display is attached to the upper arm.
 8. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the placard display is attached to the center section.
 9. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the center assembly comprises offset straps attached to a center tube.
 10. The product selector of claim 9, wherein the offset straps attach the mounting board to the center section.
 11. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the center assembly comprises a first offset strap attached to a second offset strap.
 12. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the broom head is attached to the mounting board by a head portion of the broom head.
 13. The product selector of claim 1, wherein the broom heads is attached to the mounting board by a handle portion of the broom head.
 14. A product selector for displaying a plurality of broom heads comprising: a center section, comprising a center assembly and a plurality of offset straps, wherein a broom head is removably attached to an offset strap; an upper arm and a lower arm, wherein the center assembly is rotatably attached to the upper arm and the lower arm by the plurality of offset straps; and a placard display positioned on the center section.
 15. The product selector of claim 14, wherein the upper arm and lower arm are attached to center section by a socket.
 16. The product selector of claim 14, wherein the upper arm are attached to the center section by an upper strap and the lower arm may be attached to the center section by a lower strap.
 17. The product selector of claim 14, further comprising display portions positioned on the center section, wherein the display portions display information regarding the broom heads.
 18. A method of display a plurality of broom heads comprising: removably attaching at least one broom head to at least one mounting board of a product selector, the product selector comprising: a center section, comprising a center assembly and the at least one mounting board, wherein a head portion of the at least one broom head is removably attached to each mounting board; an upper arm and a lower arm, wherein the center assembly is rotatably attached to the upper arm and the lower arm; and a placard display positioned on the center section; and displaying a product display item in the placard display.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising rotating the product selector.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising removing the at least one broom head and replacing with a second broom head. 